Artificial intelligence in India – Laws and the Road Ahead

Artificial Intelligence is the need of the hour, but their working, unlike human commands, is automated to an extent, in the sense that over a period of time they develop their own decision making on the basis of mechanically analyzing user data over time. Obviously, the objective is to have machines produce at least results that are similar to humans if not better in term of outcomes. After the major blunders related to data protection namely involving the social media giant Facebook with respect to Cambridge Analytica, the concerns have grown by leaps and bounds.

Particularly in India, the data protection system is not yet up to the mark and catching up with the pace at which AI is growing, it’s definitely a cause of concern. Additionally, if the artificial intelligence based system undertakes any actions that do not involve direct application of the human mind and leads to any sort of loss, who is to blame? Is the Artificial Intelligence system to be blamed?

Answers to these questions remain unanswered even though the supreme- court has already passed the decision about ‘right to privacy’ as a duly enforceable fundamental right. Dealing with these challenges in absence of the legislation only points towards the right being restricted to paper without being implemented.

So, is there a way ahead and if yes, how to go about it. Well, as per law pundits, there needs to be a law system in place that deals with issues relevant to artificial intelligence discrepancy besides that the AI system are subject to all the laws that a human apparently is. Furthermore, the government also needs to put a law in place to protect the data and also around intimation/ permission policy before using the data of individual users.

Perhaps, as we climb the ladder of innovation in terms of artificial intelligence and its capabilities, it’s equally critical to be aware of the simultaneous requirements of upgrade of the law and the framework interpretation in the country.